Late Goals Lift Mercer to Third Consecutive Victory

Friday, August 31

Rock Hill, S.C.

7 P.M.

Mercer University

3-0

Winthrop

1-1

Mercer

WINTHROP

Photo by: Judy Stapleton

Late Goals Lift Mercer to Third Consecutive Victory

8/31/2018 10:38:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Goals by Johnson and Toledo Jr. elevate Mercer to 3-0 start

By: David Fox

ROCK HILL, S.C. – For the first time in the Brad Ruzzo era, the Mercer Bears are 3-0 following a 2-0 victory over Winthrop on Friday night in Rock Hill, S.C. The Bears kick started the SoCon/Big South Challenge with a victory over the Eagles.

STAT OF THE MATCH
For the second consecutive match, Mercer poured on 13 shots to dominate the Eagles on both ends of the field. Seven of the Bears' 13 strikes were placed on frame, with two finding the back of the net.

MAN OF THE MATCH
JR DeRose notched his second consecutive clean sheet to help Mercer to improve to 3-0. DeRose registered two saves on the evening for his third career clean sheet.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bears outshot the Eagles 7-4 in the first half, nearly breaking through in the first minute with Ricardo Packer Jr.'s first shot of the match. Mercer placed four shots on target in the opening half but was unable to come away with the go-ahead goal.

The Bears capitalized in the 71^st minute of the match with a strike from Emmet Johnson. Johnson scored on his first and only shot of the match, tallying his second career goal and first since 2015. The senior defender rifled a shot from just outside the 18, bending the ball into the top right corner for the 1-0 lead.

Just five minutes later, the Mercer lead was doubled thanks to Leo Toledo Jr. The redshirt sophomore dribbled in near the keeper before lacing the ball into the bottom left corner for his first goal of the season and second in his career. Toledo Jr.'s touch was assisted by Josh Harrison, his first assist of the new year.

Mercer yielded just three more shots from the Eagles in the final 15 minutes of action, forcing each of the strikes to go by the wayside.

NOTABLES

Mercer improves to 3-4-1 all-time against Winthrop following the victory.
The Bears are now 3-0 first the first time in the Brad Ruzzo era.
Both Emmet Johnson and Leo Toledo Jr. found the back of the net for the first time this season and second in their careers.
Mercer improved to 4-2-2 against Big South opponents since joining the SoCon in 2014.
Mercer is now 2-1-2 in the SoCon/Big South Challenge since joining the competition in 2016.
JR DeRose registered two saves en route to his third career clean sheet.

RECORDS UPDATE

Mercer: 3-0-0
Winthrop: 1-1-0

NEXT MATCH

Mercer at Gardner-Webb on Sunday, Sept. 2 at 2 p.m. at Greene-Harbison Stadium in Boiling Springs, N.C.

Follow the Bears
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